The nuclear fusion sector is facing a critical materials challenge, as new research co-funded by Guardian Metals highlights the potential demand for tungsten in the coming decades. The study, titled ‘Materials Selection for Fusion Breeder Blankets’, is the first to quantify tungsten demand in the context of a global supply chain, raising significant questions about the future of fusion reactor development.
Tungsten, with its high melting point, thermal conductivity, and neutron shielding properties, is a leading candidate for plasma-facing and shielding materials in both spherical and D-shaped tokamaks. The research, conducted in collaboration with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Oxford Sigma, analyzed two specific reactor designs: the ARIES-ST and the EU-DEM01. Over a 40-year lifespan, a single 2,000 MWth ARIES-ST reactor would consume approximately 29,034 tonnes of tungsten, while the EU-DEM01 reactor would require around 9,554 tonnes. For context, this is roughly 2.6 times the tungsten currently consumed annually in the US for all use cases.
The study predicts that if global tungsten production remains stagnant, the fusion industry could consume 100% of global production by 2056. To meet the demands of a growing fleet of fusion reactors, global tungsten production would need to increase by 10 to 16 times its current level by the end of the century. “The results strongly underpin the need for new mined sources of the metal to meet the growing future demand from fusion technology,” the study concludes.
This research underscores a critical issue for the fusion sector: the supply chain. While the promise of fusion energy—clean, abundant, and sustainable—remains compelling, the sector must now grapple with the practicalities of scaling up production of essential materials. Guardian Metals, which co-funded the study, is likely to be at the forefront of this effort, as the company seeks to secure new sources of tungsten to meet anticipated demand.
The findings also raise broader questions about the future of fusion reactor design. If tungsten supply cannot keep pace with demand, researchers may need to explore alternative materials or design reactors that are less dependent on tungsten. This could open new avenues for innovation, but it also introduces uncertainty into the timeline for commercializing fusion energy.
As the sector moves forward, the study serves as a stark reminder that the path to fusion energy is not without its challenges. The race is now on to secure the materials needed to make fusion a reality, and the decisions made today will shape the future of this transformative technology.